Article: Twins Minor League Report (5/14): Saturday In The Minor League Parks

[Seth Stohs]

It was a full and entertaining day in the Twins minor league system. Most important, the big league club ended an eight-game losing streak. Cedar Rapids scored in double figures in Wisconsin for the second straight day. Three of the four affiliates got wins on Saturday. It took extra innings to beat the fourth. Two players had four-hit games. Four guys had three-hit games. One starter had nine strikeouts. It was a good day in the Twins minor leagues.Check out everything that happened on Saturday in the Twins farm system. Let’s take a look.

 

TRANSACTIONS

There were also a couple of minor league transactions:

• The Twins signed minor league free agent Tommy FIeld and assigned him to Rochester. With Heiker Meneses placed on the DL a day ago, the Red Wings were down to just one bench option. The Twins actually claimed Field in November of 2012, but in December that year they tried to pass him through waivers and he was claimed by the Angels. Since 2011, he has had cups of coffee with the Rockies, Angels and the Rangers.

RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 8, Syracuse 3

Box Score

 

Let’s start with this. Byron Buxton went 0-3 with two strikeouts and in the fifth inning, he left the game. Of course there was speculation, but Darren Wolfson tweeted later that he left the game with back spasms. Buxton was replaced by Tommy Fields who played right field and Max Kepler moved over to center.

 

Things got off to a quick start for the Red Wings. Buck Britton cleared the bases in the first inning with his fifth double of the year. James Beresford was the catalyst throughout the game. He went 4-5 and scored three runs. Max Kepler went 0-2, but he walked three times. Kennys Vargas was a triple short of the cycle. He was 3-5 with his fifth double and third home run. Wilfredo Tovar went 2-5.

 

Logan Darnell started. He gave up three runs (two earned) on six hits. In five innings, he walked one and struck out five. Taylor Rogers came on and struck out three batters in two scoreless innings. JT Chargois returned to the mound and struck out five batters in two scoreless innings. He allowed just one hit.

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 5, Biloxi 2

Box Score

 

DJ Baxendale continues to make his case for a promotion to AAA. In six innings, he gave up two runs on eight hits. He walked none and struck out nine. Corey Williams struck out two in a scoreless seventh innings. Trevor Hildenberger struck out three over two scoreless innings to end the game. It was his second save since joining the Lookouts.

 

Zach Granite led the offense. From the leadoff spot, he went 4-4 and stole his 16th base. In the first inning, Granite singled and scored on a Shannon Wilkerson double. Daniel Palka then hit his sixth home run of the season, a two-run shot to give the Lookouts a quick 3-0 lead. Wilkerson and Ryan Walker were each 2-3 as well.

 

Travis Harrison missed his second straight game since his outfield collision with Shannon Wilkerson.

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers 2, St. Lucie 3 (11 innings)

Box Score

 

They needed extra innings to decide this game. It was a tight pitcher’s dual. Randy Rosario started and gave up two runs on five hits and a walk in 5.2 innings. He struck out four. John Curtiss struck out two of the four batters he faced. Yorman Landa walked two and struck out three in two scoreless innings. Luke Bard pitched a scoreless tenth inning, but the winning run scored against him with two outs in the 11th. Of the five outs he got, three were strikeouts.

 

Max Murphy went 3-5 with his first stolen base. Chris Paul was 2-5 with his fifth double. He drove in both Miracle runs. Austin Diemer was 2-5 with his first double. Nick Gordon went 1-3 with a walk and his fifth stolen base.

 

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 14, Wisconsin 6

Box Score

 

The Kernels scored 12 runs on Friday night. They played again early Saturday and the hits just kept on coming. AJ Murray went 5-5 with a walk and two homers Friday night. He got the scoring started on Saturday with a sacrifice fly. It was the first of seven runs scored in the first inning. In the bottom of the fourth, Wisconsin scored five runs to cut the lead to 7-5. But in the sixth inning, the Kernels responded with five of their own and added on from there.

 

Dereck Rodriguez got his first win of the season, to improve to 1-4. He needed the run support as he gave up six runs on six hits in six innings. He used 98 pitches and walked three and struck out three. Mike Theofanopoulos recorded his first save of the year with three innings of shutout relief. He gave up just one hit, walked one and struck out six.

 

Brian Olson went 3-5 with a walk and his second double. Alex Perez went 3-5 with a walk. Aside from the sacrifice fly, AJ Murray added his ninth and tenth doubles. Daniel Kihle went 2-4, walked, was hit by a pitch and added his second double. Sean Miller was 2-5 with four RBI, three scored on a bases-clearing triple. Christian Cavaness went 2-5.

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – DJ Baxendale, Chattanooga Lookouts

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Kennys Vargas, Rochester Red Wings

 

 

SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Syracuse @ Rochester (12:35 CST) - LHP Tommy Milone

Biloxi @ Chattanooga (1:15 CST) - LHP David Hurlbut

Ft. Myers @ St. Lucie (12:00 CST) – LHP Stephen Gonsalves

Cedar Rapids @ Wisconsin (1:05 CST) – RHP Miles Nordgren

 

 

Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the Saturday games.

 

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[David HK]

Ahh, Kennys, a triple short of the cycle.  I, for one, would dearly love to see footage of any triple he hits, with the bases shaking in the ground as he rumbles by....

Good stuff, young man!    Good stuff out of Chargois, Darnell, and Rogers too.  And by golly, if that isn't our future leadoff hitter down there in 'Nooga--  I like that kid a lot.

[Bob Sacamento]

In the Extended Spring Training world, Fernando Romero started the game going 3 IP, throwing 47 pitches, giving up 2 hits, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K.  His fastball was 93-97 mph averaging 95 mph with his slider at 88-90 mph and a 78-83 mph changeup.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaPQ5AbVKvg

 

Johan Quezada was impressive on the mound with a fastball 95-99 mph and a 74-77 mph curveball. At At 6'9 226lbs, Quezada uses every bit of his frame, he's always thrown hard as I saw him hit 102 mph once last year but now he's started to throw strikes and he's getting his curveball over for strikes as well.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoFUp6efgmk

 

2014 37th rounder Tyree Davis hit a monster two run homerun over the pseudo Green Monster; the kid has a strong power and speed combo.  

 

2015 4th rounder Trey Cabbage continues to swing a hot stick, with a standup triple.  2015 8th Rounder Kolten Kendrick was 0-1 but walked twice continuing to show an advanced approach at the plate.  Roberto Gonzalez has been swinging a good bat, this at bat was not one of them.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qtzN2g63Pw

 

South African Callan Pearce threw the last two innings and showed a good 88-92 mph fastball,72-76 mph curveball and 81-83 changeup.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIR_U-0_gZs

 

On another note, Lewis Thorpe suffered a setback with shoulder tightness which is the reason he hadn't thrown recently in Extended ball.  I was told that it's nothing major just the team taking precautionary measures.  Still it puts his time table back for affiliated ball a little bit.

[FormerMinnasotan]

I see Gonsalves is slated to make another start for Fort Meyer's. Why? After his last start he should have been promoted to Chattanooga. I mean he only has a 1.21 ERA. Why do the Twins not want to promote Gonsalves? He has absolutely nothing left to prove in A+ ball. Since Gonsalves was drafted the Twins have been real weak in promoting him as it always seems Gonsalves spends far too long in every minor league affiliate thus far.

[Pitz]

A.J.Murray had a decent week. Over 7 games from Saturday to Saturday he went 15 for 28 (.536) with 5 doubles, 1 triple, 2 homers, 9 runs, 11 RBIs. Raised his season BA from .226 to .304.

[Pitz]

Just looked at Baxendale's player page. Talk about splashing a little cold water on my excitement about the current Miracle starting rotation. I had forgotten how dominant D.J. was there in 2013 - 9 starts, 57.1 innings, 1.10 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, .171 BAA, 48 K's, 11 BB.

I know he wasn't regarded as highly as the current Miracle guys, and he's also struggled with injuries so it does not necessarily mean anything for the younger guys, except maybe to remind us that they still have a ways to go.

Good to see D.J. pitching will again this year and hope to see him move up to AAA soon.

[DJL44]

An "average" pitcher in the Florida State League has a 3.40 ERA. It is not a high run scoring league. Gonsalves is doing well but it is only 6 games in Ft Myers this season. I don't see a problem with him finishing the month there. His walk rate has improved from last season but is still high at 3.1 BB/9.

 

Look at 2015 - he pitched similarly well in Cedar Rapids and was promoted after 9 games.

[JaleelWhite FanClub]

Wow! 16 SB already this year for Granite. Is that correct? If so, even given the diminished perceived value of the stolen base in today's game, that's really impressive.

[Bob Sacamento]

 

An "average" pitcher in the Florida State League has a 3.40 ERA. It is not a high run scoring league. Gonsalves is doing well but it is only 6 games in Ft Myers this season. I don't see a problem with him finishing the month there. His walk rate has improved from last season but is still high at 3.1 BB/9.

 

Look at 2015 - he pitched similarly well in Cedar Rapids and was promoted after 9 games.

Exactly, the FSL is known for being a Pitcher's League. Gonsalves still has a few things to work on before getting the bump but talking to the MiLBers in camp right now and they all believe Gonsalves is more deserving of the promotion than his rotation mate Stewart.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Wow! 16 SB already this year for Granite. Is that correct? If so, even given the diminished perceived value of the stolen base in today's game, that's really impressive.

 

That is correct, and he can fly. Plus, he's a smart base runner. Gritty!

[David HK]

 

Wow! 16 SB already this year for Granite. Is that correct? If so, even given the diminished perceived value of the stolen base in today's game, that's really impressive.

Heh...  I liked your comment, but then I noticed your screen name, and had to give you props for that.

[JaleelWhite FanClub]

 

Heh...  I liked your comment, but then I noticed your screen name, and had to give you props for that.

 

Urkel power!!!